Reversible jaw for meter boxes and the like



Dec. 19, 1950. JQHANSSQN 2,534,449

REVERSIBLE JAW FOR METER BOXES AND THELIKE Filed March 3, 1949 i atented 15cc.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REVERSIBLE J AW FOR METER BOXES AND THE LIKEErnest G. Johansson, Belmont, Mass., assignor to Anchor ManufacturingCompany, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March3, 1949, Serial No. 79,382

8 Claims. 1 This invention relates to electrical connection boxes andmore particularly to boxes of the type having jaws adapted to connectwith the correlated blades of an electric meter.

Objects of this invention are to provide an electrical connection boxwhich provides mechanical support for an electric meter, which'conjointly connects the meter to its associated electric circuits,which accommodates the meter when mounted in eithera vertical orhorizontal position, which maintains the connecting jaws in properspaced relationship to mate with the correlated meter blades, whichincorporates jaw spacing means of such configuration as to be readilymanufactured from weather resistant insulating materials includingceramic, which is rugged and weather resistant, which is simple toinstall, and which advances the art generally.

In a broad aspect the invention contemplates a connection box for anelectric meterof the projects the body of a bolt. The end of the boltprojecting beyond the jaw bottom portion en.

gages athreaded aperture of a nut with a' tab;

type having one or more contact blades for com- 'pleting the circuitthereto comprising a casing "to which is secured an insulating block. Aconducting strap having an aperture therein'and -a plurality of recessesequally distanced from the y axis of the aperture is mounted upontheblock.

A jaw assembly adapted to receive the blade'includes a jaw member havinga bottom portion abutting the strap with an aperture aligned with thestrap aperture through which apertures projects the body of a bolt. Theprojecting end of the bolt engages a threaded aperture of a nut with atab for selectively engaging one of the recesses whereby the jaw can bepositioned with respect to the strap to accommodate the blade of themeter.

In another aspect the invention contemplates a connection box for anelectric meter comprising a casing having a closed end with aninsulating block secured thereto. An aperture in each end.

of the block is aligned with an aperture in a re- 'spective conductingstrap, which also has two :recesses equally distanced from the axis ofits aperture angularly spaced 90 degrees from each other. Fastened toeach strap is a respective jaw assembly which is adapted to receive acorrelated meter blade. Each jaw assembly includes a jaw member having abottom portion abutting the correlated strap with aperture aligned withthe strap aperture through which aperture projects the body of a bolt.The end of the bolt projecting beyond the jaw bottom portion engages athreaded aperture of a nut with a tab for selectively engaging one orthe other of the recesses whereby each jaw can be positioned to toreceive a correlated blade is mountedfo companying drawing in whichaccommodate the meter with the casing mounted in either a vertical orhorizontal position.

In a further aspect of the invention the connection box comprises acasing to which is secured an insulating block having two centricall'ylocated recesses therein. Two conducting straps are mounted on therespective ends of the block.- Each of the straps includes a finger atone end thereof for engaging a correlated block reces'srfajnf aperturethrough the other end thereoLan'd a plurality of recesses equallydistancedfronithe' Y axis of said aperture. A jaw assembly adap ed" ofthe respective straps. Each jaw assem cludes a jaw having a bottomportion a' tt" the correlated strap with an' aperture; w with the strapaperture through which aper for selectively engaging one or the other ofthe; v strap recesses whereby the jaw can be positionedwith respect tothe strap to accommodate the correlated blade of the meter.

In a specific aspect the connection box pomprises a casing having aclosed end with .aninsulating block secured thereto. The block has twocentrically located recesses therein and an aperture through each endthereof.

Two .conducting straps are mounted on the respective ends;

of the block. Each of the straps has a finger at one end thereof forengaging a correlated reces-- yin the block and an aperturethrough'theothcr end thereof aligned with the correlated blockaperture.The apertured end of each strap. has; two recesses equally distancedfrom the axis at "said'aperture angularly spaced degrees from eachother. A jaw assembly adapted to receive a correlated blade is mountedon each of the re- 7 law member having a bottom portion abutting Fig. lis a front elevation view of the. connection box;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the insulating block;

Fig. 4 is an exploded isometric view of the jaw assembly arranged toaccommodate a meter blade when the casing is mounted vertically; and

Fig. 5 is an exploded isometric view of the jaw assembly arranged toaccommodate a meter blade when the casing is mounted horizontally.

In the particular embodimentof the invention chosen for the purpose ofillustration the connection box comprises a casing Ill (Fig. 1) having asubstantially cylindrical shell or wall H with a closed rear end 12. Thefront end oithecasing I is open and is provided with an outwardlyextending flange l3 which is adapted to connect with a similar flange ofa meter M as will be described in detail hereinafter. Two diametricallyopposed apertures are provided in the wall II to accommodate the end oftherespective bushings which are secured to the casing by'sw'aging as'at"|6'. Each of'thefbushings [4 has an internal thread" ll (Fig. 2)"for "engaging the external threadson the endor a conduit Cwherebythe"electrical conductors (not shown) connecting "with the meter arecarried to the connection box. Permanently riveted to the end l2 as at Iis a plate lflhaving an offset central portion [9 (Fig 1)ffor avoiding'a knockout'2l in the casing end ,llwhich may be removed to provide anaperture Iqtgiafbushing similar to it whenever it is desir- .able tointroduce the connecting conductors through the'end rathertha'rithrough'the wan of thecasing l3. 'Fastened to the end 12 and proseating throughan aperture in the offset portion ls'or theplate la is a terminarzo forconnecting a'grfamding conductor (not shown) for the cas- At the ends ofthe plate 18 are secured there- 'ispective insulating blocks" 22. Eachblock' 22 r is "securedby'ascrew23 which projects through an .fl r ure24 (Fig. 3) in a central barrier 26 to v ps a a r ue a d tl eor e a edejofthe D1ate'l8'. As shown in Fig.3, a slotted "aperture 21 is providedin each end of the block 2:ror ascrewzapr a jaw assembly 30, theaperture being enlarged as at 29 (Fig. 2) to accomf'modate thescrewhead.

The details of the jaw assembly m are more clearly illustrated in theenlarged isometric views fiihIFlg'sJ'l and 5. Eachjaw assembly 30includes a "conducting" strap 3|, a jaw member 32 and a 'rectangulanhut33 having a"tab 35 projecting from; nefof' the shorter sides thereofselectively lto en'gage either slot'35a or 35b in the endofthe strap anas will be describedfin detailheriein- 111 V Qne end of the strap 3| isformed into a can:

necting terminal or 1118 34 which is substantially cubical in shape, twoopposing sides thereof being "eliminated so that aconductor(notshownifcan be inserted therein. The, conductor" is secured.by a set screw 36 which threadingly engages an 'aperture in the top ofthe lug'34. The bottom "portion of the lug 34 is provided with jafinger:31 which projects downwardly'into a recess 38 in the block 22. Theopposite end'of the strap 3| is provided with an aperture 39forerig'aging the body of the screw 28 whereby: the strap rests upon thetop of the blOCkjZ with" its 111% adjacent the central insulating,barrier 26. A similar barrier 4| (Fig. "1) extends" ntr'mauy'; fromthe dof the barrier 25 so that it is'aa aam which projects the screw 28 sothat said bottom portion abuts the top surface of the strap 3|.

The rectangular nut 33 is provided with a threaded aperture 43 forengaging the end of the screw 28 and @is proportioned to fit snuglybetween the spring portions 43 of the jaw member 32 so that there issubstantially no relative rotary movement therebetween. The tab 35projects downwardly over the edge of the bottom 42 of the jaw member32,toengageselectively either the recess sea or 352). Whenjthe jawmember 32 and the straps! are assembled as inFigJl, the tab 35 engages.the recess 35a so that thejjaw assembly 30 is positioned to accommodatethe correlated meter blade whenth'e casing H1 is connected to thevertically.disposedconduits C as 'i's'shown in Fig. l. .The recess 35b.is, angularly spaced at degrees from the recess35aandtherespectivebottoms thereof are equally distanced from'the axis of'th'eaperture39'. When the'ca'sihg I0 is connected to horizontally disposedconduits C,'lthe jaw assembly 30 is arran edwith the tab engaging therecess"35b1as".isshown in"Fig.l 5 so that the meter blades'areaccommodatedthereby. With the above, arrangement of the l jaw assembly30, it is possiblefquickly and easily to change the orientation itnereorso that the'connection box will accommodatethebladesfbf a meter M withthe be): disposed in either a vertical or horizontal position. I I

. To provide adequate contact between the meter blades and thecorrelative jawassemblies "3 0, the

spacing between such" assemblies mustbe closelyniaint'ained. With'thebox positioned as in- Fig.'

1,the horizontal spacing introduces noparticular. problem as it isdetermined largely by the distance between the tapped holes'in the plateI!) rp'r the 'scfv'vs ]e meni jr ii fifis reed rmelntained within closelimits whenthelplate is stamped. The vertical spacing H between the i awassemblies at is a e it pri a ri thelml n facturing tolerances ofrespective insul ing blocks 22. As these blocks 22- are, for insulatingproperties; dielectric and mechanical ;strength a h r. e istan e.prsiereb pfa cera material. the problem; of maintaining the ldiq ewe casette ;nemesis is a seriousone. The relative positions of theiawassemblies an is therefore maintained "a. the

e Whih project m ghe eas sage- ,trically positionedTwithrespect to-thebloc 22, apertures s ated s le homema- "fereiwifih'tfie Sp i flin in 9therec sses v- As the dimension between the; recesses 38d hfe rsieeismeerea. allowable" limits during manutacture than tl ie 1 m a er;qifiinitbe wesh. haslettdl ren tures 21.

"The box is installed verticallyv or horiaontally depending li bn the.conduit'fconfiguration by 'con'diiits'C are coupled to the box by meansoi the bushings l4 and the electrical conductors drawn therethrough. Thejaw assemblies 30 are oriented to accommodate the meter blades byremoving the insulating blocks 20 from the box by disengaging the screws23 from the plate I B. The screws 28 are loosened and the tab 35inserted in the recess 35a or 35b asrequired. The screws 28 are thentightened and the insulating blocks 22 reinstalled in the box. The meterM is connected by inserting the blades in the correlated jaw assemblies30 until its flange I3a abuts the mating flange [3, the flanges beingmaintained in this position by the clamp band i. I ----It should beunderstood that the present disclosure is for the purpose ofillustration only and that this invention includes all modifications andequivalents which fall within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

i 1. A connection box for an electric meter of the type having a bladefor completing the circuit thereto comprising a casing, an insulatingblock secured to said casing, a conducting strap mounted on said blockhaving an aperture therein and a plurality of recesses equally distancedfrom the axis of said aperture, and a jaw assembly adapted to receivesaid blade; in cluding a jaw member having a bottom portion abutting thestrap with an aperture aligned with said strap aperture, a bolt having abody projecting through said aligned apertures, and a nut having athreaded aperture for engaging the end of the bolt projecting throughthe aperture in said jaw bottom portion and a tab for selectivelyengaging one of said recesses whereby the jaw can be positioned withrespect to the strap to accommodate the blade of the meter.

2. A connection box for an electric meter of the type having a blade forcompleting the circuit thereto comprising a casing having a closed end,an insulating block secured to said end and having an aperturetherethrough, a conducting strap having an aperture aligned with saidblock aperture and a plurality of recesses equally distanced from theaxis of said apertures, and a jaw assembly adapted to receive said bladeincluding a jaw member having a bottom portion abutting the strap withan aperture aligned with said strap aperture, a bolt having a bodyprojecting through said aligned apertures, and a nut having a threadedaperture for engaging the end of the bolt projecting through theaperture in said jaw bottom portion and a tab for selectively engagingone of said recesses whereby the jaw can be positioned with respect tothe strap to accommodate the blade of the meter.

3. A connection box for an electric meter of the type having a blade forcompleting the circult thereto comprising a casing, an insulating blocksecured to said casing, a conducting strap mounted on said block havingan aperture therein and two recesses equally distanced from the axis ofsaid apertures angularly spaced 90 degrees from each other, and a jawassembly adapted to receive said blade including a jaw member having abottom portion abutting the strap with an aperture aligned with saidstrap aperture, a bolt having a body projecting through said alignedapertures, and a nut having a threaded aperture for engaging the end ofthe bolt projecting through the aperture in said jaw bottom portion anda tab for selectively engaging one or the other of said recesses wherebythe jaw can be positioned to accommodate the pleting the circuit theretocomprising a casing,

an insulating block secured to said casing, a con ducting strap mountedon each of the respective ends of said block having an aperturethereinand a plurality of recesses equally distanced from the axis of saidaperture, and a jaw as-. sembly adapted to receive a correlatedblade;mounted on each of said respective straps, each.

jaw assembly including a jaw member having. a

bottom portion abutting the correlated strap. with an aperture alignedwith said strap aper-.

ture, a bolt having a body projecting through said aligned apertures,and a nut having a threaded.

aperture for engaging the end of the bolt projecting through theaperture in said jaw bottom portion and a tab for selectively engagingone.

of said recesses whereby the jaw can be positioned with respect to thestrap to accommodate the correlated blade of the meter.

5. A connection box for an electric meter of the type having a pluralityof blades for completing the-circuit thereto comprising a casing havinga closed end, an insulating block secured to said end and having anaperture in each end thereof, two conducting straps each having anaperture aligned with one of said block respective apertures and aplurality of recesses equally distanced from the axis of its aperture,and a jaw assembly adapted to receive a correlated blade mounted on eachof said respective straps, each jaw assembly including a jaw memberhaving a bottom portion abutting the correlated strap with an aperturealigned with said strap aperture, a bolt having a body projectingthrough said aligned apertures, and a nut having a threaded aperture forengaging the end of the bolt projecting through the aperture in said jawbottom portion, and a tab for selectively engaging one of said recesseswhereby each jaw can be positioned with respect to the strap toaccommodate the correlated blade of the meter.

6. A connection box for an electric meter of the type having a pluralityof blades for completing the circuit thereto comprising a casing havinga closed end, an insulating block secured to said end and having anaperture in each end thereof, two conducting straps each having anaperture aligned with one of said respective block apertures and tworecesses equally distanced from the axis of its respective apertureangularly spaced degrees from each other, and a jaw assembly adapted toreceive a correlated blade mounted on each of said respective straps,each jaw assembly including a jaw member having a bottom portionabutting the correlated strap with aperture aligned with said strapaperture, a bolt having a body projecting through said alignedapertures, and a nut having a threaded aperture 4 for engaging the endof the bolt projecting through the aperture in said jaw bottom portionand a tab for selectively engaging one or the other of said recesseswhereby each jaw can be positioned to accommodate the meter with thecasing mounted in either a vertical or horizontal position.

7. A connection box for an electric meter of the type having a pluralityof blades for completing the circuit thereto comprising a casing, aninsulating block secured to said casing having two centrically locatedrecesses therein, two conducting straps mounted on the respective endsof said block each -.having a finger at one end thereof engaging acorrelated recess, an aperture through the other end "thereof, and aplurality of aperture, a bolthaving abodyuprojecting through i saidaligned apertures, and a nut having a threaded aperture for engaging theend of the boltprejectingthrough the aperture in said jaw bottom portioncanda tab for selectively engaging one 'or'the other of vsaid straprecesses whereby theja w can :beripositioned with respect to thestrap-to accommodate the correlated blade of the-meter.

8. ii' connection box for an electric meter of the type havingaipluralityof blades for completing the :circuit thereto comprising acasing having a closed end, an insulating block secured to said endhaving two centrically located recesses therein and having'an aperturethrough each end thereof, two-conducting straps each having a flng er'atoneend thereof engaging a vcorrelated recess and an aperture through theother end thereof aligned-with the correlated block aperture, theapertured endrof each stra having two 8 recesses equally distanced fromthe axis of :said aperture angularly spaced 90 degrees from-"each other,land --a jaw *assembly adapted to receive at correlated blade'mounted oneacho'f saidrespeotive strapspeach jaw assembly including agjaw memberhaving a bottom portion abutting the correlated :strap with an aperturealigned with saidlstrapraperture, abolt having a bodyvinrojectingthrough :said aligned :aperture, and a .inut

having -a threaded-apertureior engaging theend of the bolt projectingthrough the aperture in said. jaw "bottom portion anda tab forselectively engaging Tone orthe other of said recesses whereby each jawcan be positioned to accommodate the rmeter with the casing mounted ineither verticalror horizontal position.

v ERNEST G. .JOHANSSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of"this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,249,247 Thomas Dec. 4,19171,351,191 .tSi'clon Aug. 31, .1920 2,118,607 .Johnson May 24,\.193 82,145,557 LRypinski v Jan. .31,11939

